Spring motor-operated fire alarm



Nov. 6, 1956 R. L. JENKS 2,769,422

SPRING MOTOR-OPERATED FIRE ALARM Filed Nov. 12, 1954 3 Sheets-Sheer l \Y 0 3 g u 9. z l1 0 I INVENTOR. RAYMOND 1.. :remcs BY I Oman ATTORN EYS Nov. 6, 1956 R. L. JENKS 2,769,422

SPRING MOTOR-OPERATED FIRE ALARM Filed Nov. 12, 1954 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 IIIIIIII/I. w

55 Fla 7 58 4/ 39 A 4 IN V EN TOR.

2.4 YMaA/o L JE/VKJ 49 Kama A TT'OENE Y5 Nov. 6, 1956 R. L. JENKS SPRING MOTOR-OPERATED FIRE ALARM Filed Nov. 12, 1954 0 I0 I o: l f l 74 FIG. IO

A /X I 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR e4 YMOND 4 JEN/(.5

ATTORNEYS United States atent SPRING MOTOR-OPERATED FIRE Raymond L. Jenks, Chester, Calif.

Application November 12, 1954, Serial No. 468,353

4 Claims. (Cl. 116-101) The present invention relates to spring motor-operated fire alarm systems for residences, and the like, and one having remotely controlled fire-sensitive alarm-actuating devices.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide a fire alarm system for residences, and the like, which is independent of the electric circuit used for lighting purposes in a residence, and one having remote firesensitive actuating means.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a fire-sensing system which will be made a permanent installation with a residence, garage, auditorium, apartment house, for sensing the presence of fire all through each of the buildings, and providing an alarm operated by a spring motor which is set into operation by the fire sensing means.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an inexpensively constructed, easily installed, and always ready fire alarm system, and one requiring no attention, inspection, replacement of parts, such as batteries, and the like.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a fire alarm system which may be set into operation by hydraulic means, including fire-sensitive elements remotely located, each one of which has a springoperated means for transmitting the fluid pressure to the fire alarm.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will be fully apparent from the following description when taken in connection with the annexed drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a schematic view of the system of the present invention showing its location, one unit on each side of the dotted line, representing a building wall or the distance between two buildings,

Figure 2 is a view in perspective showing how the alarm portion of the present invention could be installed in a wall, opening outwardly on both sides of the wall,

Figure 3 is a view in perspective of the sensing element,

Figure 4 is a sectional view on line 4-4 of Figure 2,

Figure 5 is a sectional view on line 5-5 of Figure 4,

Figure 6 is an end view in cross-section on line 6-6 of Figure 4,

Figure 7 is a detailed view in cross-section on 77 of Figure 3,

Figure 8 is a schematic view showing the use of hydraulic fluid lines and hydraulic pressure-actuating means for the alarm,

Figure 9 is a view in cross-section on line 9-9 of Figure 8,

Figure 10 is a View in cross-section on line 10-10 of Figure 9, and

Figure 11 is a view in cross-section on line 11-11 of Figure 8.

Referring in greater detail to the drawing in which like numerals indicate like parts throughout the several views, the invention, in its first embodiment, consists of ice a casing 10 having front walls 11 and side walls 12 and 13. The front wall 11 is formed, as seen in Figure 2 with a grill or screen 14. Suitable flanges 15 overlie the front wall 11, which may be duplicated on each side of the casing 10 in order to install it within a wall, as shown in Figure 2.

Referring to Figure 4, a dome-shaped bell is indicated by the reference numeral 16 and is connected to the spring-wound motor 17 having a bell hammer or triprelease 18 operatively connected to the motor 17 for movement from a cocked position to prevent operation of the motor 17 to an uncooked position to permit operation of the motor. The trip release 18 has a portion extending into the bell and engageable therewith when the motor operates.

A partition 19 separates the casing into a bell compartment and a trip-release compartment and a sleeve 20 secured to the partition 19 supports one end of a reciprocating actuating bar 21 normally contacting and holding the trip-release 18 in its cocked position preventingthe bell from ringing.

The other end of the bar 21 is engaged by one leg of an L-shaped lever 22 positioned adjacent to and intermediate the ends of the bar 21, and as seen in dotted lines indicated at 21, is moveable to a position withdrawn through the sleeve 20 to release the trip-release 18.

The pivotal movement of the lever 22 is indicated by the reference numeral 22 referring to the dotted line position, as seen in Figure 4.

The bar 21 is formed with a projection against which another L-shaped lever 23 has one leg in abutting relation. Each of the levers 22 and 23 is connected at the juncture point of its legs for pivotal movement on the upper end of their respective casings 24 and 25, respectively, in the latter of which will be seen an actuating normally loaded spring biased plunger 26 projecting by one end from the casing 25, and having its other end 27 slidably mounted within a sleeve 28 which is integrally formed as part of a plate 29, one face of which is disposed exteriorly of the casing 10.

In each of Figures 2 and 4, it will be seen that the plunger end 27 is secured to the plate 29 by two points of fusible material or solder, indicated by the reference numeral 30. The solder to be used must be selected from the groups of solder having a low melting point. A spring 31 is normally compressed and biases the plunger 26 outwardly from the casing in a direction opposite to a plate 29. A washer 32 and a pin 33 secure the spring in compressed position. In the presence of fire, the solder 30 will melt releasing the spring 31 to drive the plunger 26 to the position indicated at dotted lines 27' in Figure 4, to pivot the lever 23 to the position shown in dotted lines 23. This obviously will move the bar 21 to the position indicated at 21' and will release the trip release 18 to set the alarm into action. A light spring 34 restrains the movement of the bar 21 against accidental movement to actuate the alarm.

Means will now be described by which a remotely placed heat-responsive means will operate the withdrawal of the bar 21.

It is intended that the casing can be provided with a plurality of knockout openings in one of which a con duit 35 is shown to be connected by the nuts 36 which are threadedly received upon the threaded end of the conduit 35, in the conventional manner common to electrical installations of switch boxes and connecting conduits.

A wire 37 extends withinthe conduit and is connected by one end to the bar 21. In Figure 7 is shown the second type of heat-responsive means for actuating the alarm, in which a T-shaped body 38 is connected by one end to the other end of the conduit 35 remote from the J casing 10 and having a cap 39 screwed on the other end of the body 38 and provided with a loop or hook 40 in which is anchored one end of a'spring 41, the other end of which isconnected to the wire 37. The body '38 isprovided with a support means consisting of a threaded cylinder 42 'projectin g from one side of the body 38 and extending through an opening 43 cut in a panel, shown in Figure 7 and indicated by the reference numeral 44 which represents a portion of a wall or ceiling. A suitable flange 45 onthe outer end of the cylinder 42 is formed with a shoulder againstwhich is pressed a plate 46. In this second embodiment of a heat-responsive means has its other face provided with a second plate 47 disposed'in confronting face-to-face relation with the plate 46 and sealed to it by the spots of solder indicated by the reference numeral 48. r

A wire 49 is attached to the plate47 and travels over a pulley 50 and is connected to the free end of the spring 41.

In operation, should the plate 46 be subjected to .sutficient heat to melt the solder 4 8, the wire 49 would be released and the spring 41 Wouldpull .the wire 37 to actuate the bar 21, setting the alarm into action.

Referring now to Figures 4 to 6, the elements'of the invention which permit the actuation of one of the alarms to set into operation another alarm, will be described. V t

The first of the L-shaped levers 22 is provided with an upstanding hook indicated in Figure 4 by the reference numeral 51, in which is engaged the hook portion 52-of --a pivotal lever or latch 53 which is swing'able to theposition indicated by 53f when pulled by the wire54. H Referring to Figure 5, the lever 22 is seen to be athere as running parallel to the conduit 35 it may extend from any side of'the casing 10, the pulleys 56 being rearranged to accommodate the wire 54,- ,A Wire 59 extends through the conduit 53 and is connected to thefree end-of the spring 57 along with the end of the wire 54;

' Referring now to Figure l, the casing of Figure 4 is indicated by ltl' and a second casing is indicated by 10".

The conduit 35 of Figure 4 is indicated by the reference numeral 35' and the conduit 58 of Figure is indicated by the reference numeral 58'. V t

The elements of the invention described above are here shown in schematic form and it will be seen that the wire indicated 7 by the reference numeral 59' is connected to the latch 53' with the intervening wire 54' and spring 57.

A T connection 60, in Figure 1, is inserted along the length of the conduit 35' and has a pulley 61 over which the wire 59' travels to a'connection 62 with the wire 37. In operation, whenever. the, alarm in the casing is actuated by the withdrawal of the bar 21" and the sub- I sequent movement of the L-shaped lever 22", releases the latch53' the wire 54 is released and the spring 57' pulls on the'wire 59 to exert a pull upon 'the'wire 37' .for actuating the alarm, the plate 46 has one face exposed to the enclosure within the wall or ceiling 47 and by means of its connection 62, thus actuating the alarm in the casing 10. V

A reverse arrangement for actuating the alarm within the casing. 10" whenever the alarm in the casing 10' is sounded is seen to consist of the T-connection 63 with its wire 64 similarly connected over a pulley 65 within another T-connection 66 in'having the same elements of appear if installed upon the ceiling of a room or en-' closure.

Referring nowrto Figures'8 to 11, another means for actuating the alarm is shown and consists of ahydraulic system including conduits 67, casings 63 having motors 69 and bells 70 similarly operable by means of the'actuating bar 71 to which is pivotally attached an L shap ed lever 72 one leg of which i in' abutting relation with a plunger 73, as seen most clearly in Figure 10.

A housing 74 has within it a diaphragm 75 and provides a closed fluid-filled cylinder having an inlet port 76 which is connected to the conduit 67. A filler .plug or air-bleed plug 77 is provided by means of which the fluid may be introduced'into the system and the air removed.

Referring to Figure 11, the heat responsive means" of 84 which bears by one end against the diaphragm 79 and has its other end connected by solder 85 to an apertured disc 86. In this embodiment, the heat-responsive unit is contained within a cylinder 87 threadedly received within the cylinder 89 and may be easily replaced or removed for inspection.

Referring to Figure 8, two of the bodies 78 are shown as indicated by the reference numerals 78, the supporting wall being shown in dotted lines and indicated'by the reference numeral 44'. disc 86 is subjected to temperatures higher than ambient temperatures, the solder 85'will melt releasing the actuating rod 84 and the spring 81 will exert pressure against "the diaphragm 79 to conduct fluid under pressure through.

the conduit 67 to each of the casings 68, the increased pressure within each of the housings 74 willthen operate the plungers 78 to move the actuating bar 71 and set off the alarm' Obviously, more than one'alarm can be attachedto the conduit 67 and the heat-responsive and fire-detecting means may be installed where desired, as many of them as is required, all attached to the single conduit-67. Thus, the objects of the present invention are accomplished, the system is self-contained, requiring no connection to the lig hting' circuittof a residence or mits the invention to be used in many applications and to be responsive to common combustion temperatures or other temperatures encountered adjacent to the places of storage of combustible materials.

While only these embodiments of the present invention have been here illustrated and described, it is believed from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is: t

1; In a fire alarm system, a spring wound motor, a

dome-shaped bell mounted in cooperating relation with respect to said motor, a trip release oper'atively connected to said motor for movement from a cooked position. to prevent operation of said motor to an uncocked position to permit operation of said motor and having a portion extending into said'bell, a reciprocating actuating bar having one end contacting said trip release to hold it in 7 its cocked position, spring means operatively connected to said bar forurging said bar to its contacting position to hold said trip release in its cocked position, an L-shaped lever positioned adjacent to said bar intermediate its ends and connected at the juncture pointof its legs for rocking movement about a vertical axis, and a spring biased plunger normally held under tension by a fixed connection of a heat fusible material and engaging one leg of said L-shaped lever, the other leg of..said 'lever being'operatively engageable with said actuating'bar adjacent the 7 other end thereof for etfecting movement of the latter,

In operation, whenever the said plunger upon fusion of said heat fusible material connection being movable to effect rocking movement of said lever and shifting movement of said actuating bar out of contacting engagement with said trip release.

2. In a fire alarm system, a spring Wound motor, a dome-shaped bell mounted in cooperating relation with respect to said motor, a trip release operatively connected to said motor for movement from a cocked position to prevent operation of said motor to an uncocked position to permit operation of said motor and having a portion extending into said bell, a reciprocating actuating bar having one end contacting said trip release to hold it in its cocked position, spring means operatively connected to said bar for urging said bar to its contacting position to hold said trip release in its cocked position, an L-shaped lever positioned adjacent to said bar intermediate its ends and connected at the juncture point of its legs for rocking movement about a vertical axis, and a spring biased plunger having one end normally held under tension by a fixed connection of a heat fusible material and having the other end engaging one leg of said L-shaped lever, the other leg of said lever being operatively engageable with said actuating bar adjacent the other end thereof for effecting movement of the latter, said plunger upon fusion of said heat fusible material connection being movable to cause its other end to effect a horizontally directed force upon said one lever leg and shift said one end of said actuating bar out of contacting engagement with said trip release.

3. In a fire alarm system, a spring Wound motor, a dome-shaped bell mounted in cooperating relation with respect to said motor, a trip release operatively connected to said motor for movement from a cocked position to prevent operation of said motor to an uncocked position to permit operation of said motor and having a portion extending into said bell, a reciprocating actuating bar having one end contacting said trip release to hold it in its cocked position, spring means operatively connected to said bar for urging said bar to its contacting position to hold said trip release in its cocked position, an L- shaped lever positioned adjacent to said bar intermediate its ends and connected at the juncture point of its legs for rocking movement about a vertical axis, a spring biased plunger having one end normally held under tension by a fixed connection of a heat fusible material, and hydraulic means connecting the other end of said plunger to one leg of said L-shaped lever, the other leg of said lever being operatively engageable with said actuating bar adjacent the other end there-:2 for effecting movement of the latter, said plunger upon fusion of said heat fusible material connection being movable to cause its other end to eiiect a horizontally directed force upon said one lever leg and shift said one end of said actuating bar out of contacting engagement with said trip release.

4. In a fire alarm system, a spring wound motor, a dome-shaped bell mounted in cooperating relation with respect to said motor, a trip release operatively connected to said motor for movement from a cocked position to prevent operation of said motor to an uncooked position to permit operation of said motor and having a portion extending into said bell, a reciprocating actuating bar having one end contacting said trip release to hold it in its cocked position, spring means operatively connected to said bar for urging said bar to its contacting position to hold said trip release in its cocked position, a pair of L-shaped levers positioned adjacent to said bar intermediate its ends, each of said levers being connected at the juncture of its legs for rocking movement about a vertical axis, a pair of spring biased plungers each having one end normally held under tension by a fixed connection of a heat fusible material and having the other end engaging one leg of the adjacent one of said L-shaped levers, the other leg of one of said L-shaped levers being operatively connected to said actuating bar adjacent the other end thereof for movement therewith, the other leg of the other of said L-shaped levers being operatively engageable with said actuating bar adjacent the other end thereof for effecting movement of the latter, each of said plungers upon fusion of the associated heat fusible material connection being movable to cause its other end to effect a horizontally directed force upon the adjacent one of said one lever leg and shift said one end of said actuating bar out of contacting engagement with said trip release.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 993,688 Johnson May 30, 1911 1,006,608 Walker Oct. 24, 1911 2,569,062 Kjeldernaard Sent. 25. 1951 

